car seat laws in Queensland
the complete guide to child car seat and restraint laws in Queensland (QLD). covering every age group, fines, demerit points, and exemptions.
QLD penalties at a glance
$433
fine
3 demerit points
penalty
rules by age group
rear-facing (birth – 6 months)
all babies from birth to at least 6 months must be secured in an approved rear-facing child restraint.
forward-facing with harness (6 months – 4 years)
children aged 6 months to under 4 years must use a rear-facing or forward-facing restraint with an internal harness.
booster seat (4 – 7 years)
children aged 4 to under 7 years must use a forward-facing child restraint with harness or a booster seat restrained by a seatbelt.
seatbelt only (7+ years)
children aged 7 years and over may use a seatbelt alone. recommended to continue in a booster until 145cm.
front seat rules
children under 4 cannot sit in the front row of a vehicle with two or more rows. children 4 to under 7 can only sit in front if all rear seats are occupied by children under 7.
taxis and ride-share
children under 1 must not travel in the front seat of a taxi. children 1 to under 7 may travel in the rear of a taxi without a child restraint if one is unavailable — they must wear a seatbelt.
QLD specific notes
- •Queensland has some of the highest fines for child restraint offences in Australia
- •restraints must meet Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754
- •RACQ offers child restraint fitting and checking services across QLD
source: this information is based on Queensland Government / TMR. always check the official source for the most current rules.
view all state car seat laws
the complete state-by-state guide
this guide is for informational purposes only. car seat laws are based on publicly available information from Queensland Government / TMR and were accurate at the time of writing. fines and rules may change — always check the official source for the latest. mini mode is not affiliated with any government agency.